Loyola University New Orleans presents American Landscapes

(New Orleans)—A smorgasbord of subtle and not-so-subtle comedies will be the first fall offering of Loyola University’s Department of Drama and Speech. American Landscapes will run in the Lower Depths Theater from October 4 - 8. It will be directed by David Dahlgren.

American Landscapes is the collective title of eight different ten-minute plays from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, one of the country’s finest regional theatres. The plays are separate from and independent of each other, but together they form a comic mosaic of American life and culture. The comedies include a Western parody, a "game show from hell", a soap opera with an interesting twist, and other surprises.

"A play that is ten minutes long is a treat for audiences and actors alike," said Dahlgren. "A tremendous amount of energy is compressed into a form that gives us a story with a beginning, middle and end within a brief time limit. Since we’re using an ensemble cast for these plays, the actors get to show their versatility."

"We’re fortunate to have an extremely talented pool of actors, including many freshmen," said Georgia Gresham, chair of the Department of Drama and Speech. "An ensemble show such as this one is a perfect chance for actors to gain valuable experience."

American Landscapes will run in the Lower Depths Theater in the Music and Communications Building, St. Charles at Calhoun, on October 4, 5, 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. and October 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 for students, seniors and Loyola alumni. Group discounts are available. For more information, call 865-3824.